Sources:
Letters of the Tsaritsa to the Tsar, 1914-1916, published by Duckworth & Co., 1923
The letter:
No. 115.
Tsarskoje Selo, Sept. 7-th 1915
Beloved Huzy dear,
Cold, windly & rainy — may it spoil the roads. I have read through the papers — nothing written that we have left Vilna — again very mixed, success, bad luck & it cannot be otherwise, & one rejoices over the smallest success. It does not seem to me that the Germans will venture much more further, it would be great folly to enter deeper into the country — as later our turn will come. — Is the ammunition, shells & rifles coming in well? You will send people to have a look — your Suite? — Your poor dear head must be awfully tired with all this work & especially the interior questions? Then, to recapitulate what the old man said: to think of a new minister of the interior, (I told him you had not yet fixed upon Neidhardt; perhaps, when you return, you can think once more about Khvostov); a successor to Sazonov, whom he finds quite impossible, has lost his head, cries & agitates against Goremykin, & then the question, whether you intend keeping the latter or not. But certainly not a minister who answers before the Duma, as they want — we are not ripe for it & it would be Russia's ruin — we are not a Constitutional country & dare not be it, our people are not educated for it & thank God our Emperor is an Autocrat & must stick to this, as you do — only you must show more power & decision. I should have cleared out quickly still Samarin & Krivoshein, the latter displeases the old man greatly, right & left & excited beyond words.
Goremykin hopes you won't receive Rodzianko. (Could one but get another instead of him, an energetic, good man in his place wld. keep the Duma in Order.) — Poor old man came to me, as a "soutien" & because he says I am "l'énergie". To my mind, much better clear out ministers who strike & not change the President who with decent, energetic, well-intentioned cooperates can serve still perfectly well. He only lives & serves you & yr. country & knows his days are counted & fears not death of age, nor by knife or shot — but God will protect him & the holy Virgin. Our Friend wanted to wire to him an encouraging telegram. — Markozov — no I must finish about Goremykin, he beggs you to think of somebody for Moscou & besides get Mrozovsky to come quicker, as these sessions may become too noisy in Moscou & therefore an eye & voice of the Minister of Interior ought to be there, & one has the right to, as Moscou is under the minister of Interior. Neratov he finds no good for replace Sazonov (I only like that mentioned his name), he knows him since he was a boy & says he never served out of Russia, & that is not convenient at such a place. But where to get the man. We had enough of Isvolsky & he is not a very sure man — Girs is not worth much, Benk. — the name already against him. Where are men I always say, I simply cannot grasp, how in such a big country does it happen that we never can find suitable people, with exceptions! —
My conversation with Markozov was most interesting (a little too sure of himself) & he can tell one many necessary things & clear up misunderstandings. Polivanov knows him well & already he has cleared up one thing. It seems there was an order to take off of the prisoner officers their epaulets, wh. created an awful fury in Germany & wh. I understand — why humiliate a prisoner & that is one of those wrong orders of 1914 fr. the Headquarters — thank God one has now changed it. — He also understands that we must always try to be in the right, as they at once otherwise repay us equally — till for that — & when this hideous war is over & the hatred abated, I long that one should say, that we were noble. The horror of being a prisoner is already enough for an officer & one wont forget humiliations or cruelties — let them carry home remembrances of christianity & honour. Luxury, nobody asks for. They are really improving the lot of our prisoners. I saw a photo, Max did of our wounded at Saalem (A. Maroussia's place) in the garden, near a Russian toy hut, Max used to play in & they look well fed & contented. Their greatest hatred has passed, & ours is artificially kept up by the rotten "Novoye Vremya". — I must fly & dress, as we have got an operation & before that I want to place my candles & pray for you as usual; my treasure, my Angel, my Sunshine, my poor much-suffering Job. I cover you with kisses & mourn over your loneliness. —
The operation went off alright — in the afternoon we went to the big Palace hospital. Kulomzin came to me to present himself & bring lists, to show me what the Romanovsky committee has done; — most interesting talk about all sorts of questions. —
Well, Dear, here are a list of names, very little indeed, who might replace Samarin. Ania got them through Andronnikov who had been talking with the Metropolitan as he was in despair Samarin got that nomination, saying that he unterstood nothing about the Church affairs. Probably he saw Hermogen at Moscou, in any case he sent for Varnava, abused our Friend, & said that Hermogen had been the only honest man, because he was not afraid to tell you all against Gregory & therefore he was shut up, & that he, Samarin wishes Varnava to go & tell you all against Gregory; he answered that he could not, only if the other ordered him to, & as coming from him. So I wired to the old man to receive Varnava who would tell him all, & I hope the old man will speak to Samarin after & wash his head. You see, he does not heed what you told him — he does nothing in the Synod & only persecutes our Friend, i. e. goes straight against us both — unpardonable, & at such a time even criminal. He must leave. — Well here: Khvostov (minister of justice) very religious knowing much about the Church, most devoted to you & much heart. Guriev (Director of the Chancellery of the Synod) very honest, serves long in the Synod (likes our Friend). He mentioned Makarov ex minister, but he would never do, & a small unknown man. —
But he goes on singing a praise of Khvostov & tells it to Gregory as he wants to bring him round to see, that this is a man ready to have himself chopped to pieces for you (will stand up for our Friend, never allow one mention him); his manque de tacte after all don't mind so much now, when one needs an energetic man who knows people in every place, & a Russian name, Kulomzin also hates the "Novoye Vremya" & finds the Moscov. Vied. & "Russkoye Slovo" much better. I am a bit anxious what they are producing in Moscou. The Petrograd strikes, Andronnikov says, are thanks to colossal gaffes of Stcherbatov who shut up people who had nothing to do in that respect. — I hope Voyeikov listens less to Stcherbatov — he is such a nullity & weak & by that does harm. — What dull letters I write, but me wants to help zoo so awfully, Sweetheart, & so many use me as an organ to give over things to you. —
Sonia Den took tea with us, she leaves for Koreiz, as needs a better climate, is so happy you are out there & understands perfectly well that you went now when all is so difficult. —
Yesterday we took tea at Pavlovsk with Mavra — Aunt Olga turned up too — she looks unwell, worked in Sunday fr. 10-2½ in the hospital — she overtires herself, but wont listen to reason. I understand her — myself of experience have realised one must do less, alas, so I work rarely, to keep my strength for more necessary things.
Yesterday evening we were at Ania's, also Shurik, Yuzik Marie's friend & Alexei Pavlovitch, who told us about the Headquarters — he leaves for there again to-morrow. —
I enclose a letter from Ania about her brother, tho' I advised her not to send it as if the name comes to you, of yr. own accord I know you will do what is right for the boy who worked so hard. —
Now I must dress for Church. Cold, wet and rainy, — may it spoil the roads thoroughly at least. — Awfully anxious to get news — God will help. —
Goodbye & God bless you my sweetest of sweets. —
I cover your precious face with tenderest, warmest kisses & long to hold you in my arms & forget everything for a few moments.
Ever yr. very own old
Sunny.
Here is Babysweets letter too. —
Nicholas's telegram:
Telegram. Stavka. 7 September, 1915.
Thanks for your letter and Olga's. Also for the information. This man's behaviour is beginning to drive me mad...
Thanks for your letter and Olga's. Also for the information. This man's behaviour is beginning to drive me mad...
Nicholas's letter:
Mogiliev. 7 September, 1915.
MY BELOVED SUNNY,
My warmest thanks for your dear letter, in which you spoke of your visits to the begentzi in various parts of the town! What an excellent idea, and how splendid that you should have been and seen everything for yourself! I can judge of the way your brain works by the abundance of thoughts and names which you mention in your letters. I shall inquire about Ploto and shall try to do what is possible. It is the right thing — to send members of the suite to the factories which are working for the army, and I shall tell this to the old man, who throws himself at your feet!
Yesterday George returned quite unexpectedly. He looks well and sunburnt. He saw the 30th Army Corps, but could not reach the Guards of the Northern Army, as fierce battles were raging. He told me a great number of interesting things. To-day I sent Kyrill to visit Gen. Ivanov and his three magnificent armies, after their recent successes. He is taking with him 4200 crosses and also officers' decorations; he is delighted to have been given such a job.
Yesterday, although it was Sunday, was a very busy day. At 10 o'clock, church; from 11 to 12.30, work on the Staff, a big lunch, then Shcherbatov's report; I told him everything. A half-hour's walk in the garden. From 6 to 7.30, Polivanov's report in the presence of Alexeiev, and after dinner his private report, and then a mass of beastly papers for signature. This time, Shcherbatov has made a much better impression on me than he did at Tsarskoe; he was much less timid, and reasoned soundly. Concerning Moscow, he repeated that there is no cause for alarm about the Syiezd, for, if they make stupid resolutions, they will not be passed for printing, and so no harm can result. Right!
I ... would give a great deal to be able to nestle in our comfortable old bed; my field bedstead is so hard and stiff! But I must not complain — how many sleep on damp grass and mud!
God bless you, my love, and the children! Tenderly and passionately I kiss you times without number. Ever your old hubby
NICKY.
Above: Nicholas and Alexandra. Photo courtesy of Ilya Grigoryev at lastromanovs on VK.
Above: Grigori Rasputin.
Notes: Alexandra almost always referred to Grigori Rasputin as "our Friend".
manque de tacte = lack of tact.
"This man" = Sazonov.
begentzi (беженцы) = refugees.
Syiezd (Съезд) = Assembly.
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